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By K.R. Nayar A cricket organisation to boost the game in Europe was launched in Paris today. Six cricketing nations joined hands and formed the European Cricket Association. The inaugural meeting of the association held at Pullman Effiel was attended by representatives of six cricket playing nations  - France, Italy, Jersey, Malta, Austria and Romania. France was the host of the meeting which was held under the chairmanship of Gurumurthy Palani, the Board Advisor to the France Cricket Association, till the president of the body is chosen. European Cricket Association officials at their launch meeting  Gabriel Marin of Romania was elected as the first President of the European Cricket Association, while Fabio Marabini of Italy will be the First Vice President. Three vice presidents were elected, which included Indika Perera (Malta), Sarah Gomersall (Jersey) and Gurumurthy Palani (France). Bilal Zal Mai of Austria will be the Executive Committee Member. Speaking about the...

By K.R. Nayar From Mumbai  It was interesting to read the headlines in the different Indian newspapers after D. Gukesh was crowned as the youngest World Chess Champion on December 12, 2024, at just 18 years. It seemed as if each of the leading dailies were competing with each other to proudly display Gukesh’s historic feat.  "Gukesh, King at 18"  said Hindustan Times on the front page.  "History at 18" declared the Indian Express. The Hindu, the newspaper from Gukesh’s city Chenai, gave the headline:  "Gukesh—From Crown Prince to King" . The Times of India simply said:  "Chakde India" , while the Malayalam newspaper Mathrubhumi called it  "Ashwamedham" .   D Gukesh creates history at 18. Photos  FIDE While everyone highlighted the fact that Gukesh had won the covered crown at just 18 years, what amazed everyone was his extraordinary mental strength. Two individuals who   have played a significant role in shaping this mental strength...

By K.R. Nayar It was during my stint as a sports reporter in Mumbai years ago that I met coach Ramakant Achrekar. His    protégé, Sachin Tendulkar, had still not become a superstar. At the time, Achrekar was better known as the coach of Lalchand Rajput, now the coach of the UAE team, and wicketkeeper-batsman Chandrakant Pandit. When Rajput and Pandit, both of whom hailed from Mumbai, played for India during 1985–86, Achrekar was mentioned as their coach.   Ramakant Achrekar Back then, since I wanted to write a feature on Achrekar, I had visited Shivaji Park—the same venue where, on December 3, 2024, a memorial in his honor was unveiled. All his students who went on to become outstanding cricketers, including Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, Pravin Amre, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, Paras Mhambrey, Sanjay Bangar, and Sameer Dighe, attended the unveiling event.   UAE coach Lalchand Rajput whom Ramakant Achrekar groomed into a Test player  Besides teaching techniques ...

By K.R. Nayar Schedule for UAE’s very own cricket league – the much awaited DP World ILT20 season 3- has been announced. The tournament will kick off on January 11, 2025, with defending champions MI Emirates facing off against the Dubai Capitals at the Dubai International Stadium (DIS) at 6pm.  What makes the opening match special is that it would be a re-match of Season 2’s final clash. Fans can look forward to watching T20 superstars who delivered spectacular performances in the previous editions return to action. The league will be hosted at three iconic venues in the UAE: Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium, Dubai International Stadium, and the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. All six DP World ILT20 franchises are expected to field well-balanced squads, ensuring high-quality competition in the T20 format. This month-long tournament, featuring 34 matches, will conclude on February 9 at the Dubai International Stadium. David White - CEO DP World ILT20 David White, CEO of DP World ILT...

By K.R. Nayar The Japan Under-19 cricket team is currently in the UAE to participate in the Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup 50-over tournament, scheduled to be held in Dubai and Sharjah from November 29 to December 8.     There was a time when people doubted whether Japan would ever play cricket. During that period, UAE-based businessman and cricket enthusiast Shyam Bhatia envisioned a future where Japan would compete at the international level. Acting on his belief, he distributed 250 cricket kits through his Cricket for Care charity.   The Japan Under 19 team with Shyam Bhatia at the G Force Cricket Academy Bhatia Cricket For Care ground. In 2011, after Japan was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami, Bhatia arranged for more cricket equipment, aiming to bring smiles to the faces of affected children. This gesture led the Japanese Cricket Association to launch the Cricket for Smiles program. Known for their dedication, the Japanese embraced cricket with enthusiasm. In 2...